Commentary on the Quran (Chapter 3:90-91)

Commentary on the Quran (Chapter 3:90-91)

By: Mohammad Sobhanie

Unacceptable Repentance

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بَعْدَ إِيمَانِهِمْ ثُمَّ ازْدَادُوا كُفْرًا لَّن تُقْبَلَ تَوْبَتُهُمْ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الضَّالُّونَ ‎﴿٩٠﴾‏ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِم مِّلْءُ الْأَرْضِ ذَهَبًا وَلَوِ افْتَدَىٰ بِهِ ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّاصِرِينَ ‎﴿٩١﴾‏

3:90 Indeed, those who reject the message after their belief and then increase in disbelief – never will their (claimed) repentance be accepted, and they are the ones astray.

3:91 Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers – never would the (whole) capacity of the earth in gold be accepted from one of them if he would (seek to) ransom himself with it. For those there will be a painful punishment, and they will have no helpers.

Commentary: Al-Harith bin Suwayd, one of the Ansars—a group of early Muslims who supported and sheltered the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his followers during their migration to Madinah—found himself in a regrettable situation after killing an innocent Muslim in Madinah. Fearing retribution and punishment, he and eleven of his companions apostatized and fled to Mecca.

Once in Makkah, Al-Harith deeply regretted his actions and contemplated how he could make amends. Eventually, he decided to send an envoy back to Madinah to ask the Prophet (PBUH) if there was a way for him to return. In response, verses 3:86-89 reveal that Allah (SWT) forgives those who repent and amend their wrongdoings.

Al-Harith bin Suwayd returned to Madinah, met the Prophet (PBUH), and converted to Islam once more. His loyalty to the Prophet (PBUH) was unwavering from that moment, and he remained steadfast until his last breath. In contrast, Al-Harith’s eleven companions stayed in Makkah, expecting the Prophet (PBUH) to be soon defeated. Their backup plan was to seek forgiveness in case the Prophet (PBUH) defeated them. Verses 3:90-91 stated that Allah (SWT) would not accept such repentance.

Verse 4:18 reiterates the conditions for repentance, emphasizing that Allah (SWT) accepts the repentance of those who wrong themselves out of ignorance or carelessness and then sincerely repent before their death. However, those who continue with their wrongdoing until death approaches and then decide to repent will not have their repentance accepted.

Verse 3:90 reads: “Indeed, those who reject the message after their belief (إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بَعْدَ إِيمَانِهِمْ) and then increase in disbelief (ثُمَّ ازْدَادُوا كُفْرًا) – never will their (claimed) repentance be accepted (لَّن تُقْبَلَ تَوْبَتُهُمْ), and they are the ones astray (وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الضَّالُّونَ).”

Verse 3:91 serves as a stark reminder that those who die in a state of disbelief will not escape divine punishment on the Day of Judgment, regardless of what they may offer as ransom. Even if they were to fill the entire earth with gold, it would not save them from the consequences of their disbelief. This warning is a sobering truth that we must all heed.

Verse 3:91 reads: “Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers (إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ) – never would the (whole) capacity of the earth in gold be accepted from one of them (فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِم مِّلْءُ الْأَرْضِ ذَهَبًا) if he would (seek to) ransom himself with it (وَلَوِ افْتَدَىٰ بِهِ). For those there will be a painful punishment (أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ), and they will have no helpers (وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّاصِرِينَ).”

The term “helper” (نَّاصِرِينَ) in the Verse refers to “intercessors” on the Day of Judgment. Therefore, the phrase “they will have no helpers” (وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّاصِرِينَ)” indicates that there will be no intercessors available to plead on behalf of disbelievers who have died in their disbelief. Since intercession can only take place with the permission of Allah (SWT), God will not permit any intercession for those who have died as disbelievers.